Rating: 
Summary: Any Given Sunday
Review: Sports movies are tough to make. Creating the essence of the actual event is the toughest. Most films fall short in the editing process of the event or through sheer carelessness and lack of knowledge. ANY GIVEN SUNDAY is somewhat of an exception. It is hard-hitting and bloody like NORTH DALLAS FORTY. It is actually conventional when you think about it, like a warped RUDY. It is a hell of a lot more realistic than say, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS. These are all football films with varying degrees of success (except ROUGHNESS), but Oliver Stone, in his usual over the top way, throws a dizzying, mind-splitting film at us, much like the sport itself. This is why I liked it.
Oliver Stone began a wicked spell of filmmaking with JFK, evident in its editing style. Fast-paced, black and white mixed with color, documentary-like methods ensued in NATURAL BORN KILLERS, NIXON, and the ghastly U-TURN. Nothing is new here with ANY GIVEN SUNDAY. Football is a battlefield Stone chooses to depict and depict it he does. Even the most ardent fans of the sport do not really know what it is like for a quarterback to drop back and get rid of a piece of pigskin before 11 players maul him. You certainly get the idea watching this.
Al Pacino is the dried up head coach of the fictional Miami Sharks and he barks out the usual coaching cliches you hear in press conferences after real games. Pacino also seems to be sleep-walking through the picture. At times, he appears drunk even when he is not supposed to be. Cameron Diaz's character, a young chick owner, (yeah right) destroys any credibility the film may have had going in (Even the NFL would have nothing to do with this movie). Her constant bickering is so over-done, you almost feel like hurling much the way Jamie Foxx does every time he enters a game as the team's 3rd string quarterback. Realisticly speaking, this is not a very sane film about football. It is a maniacal celebration of the game. The scenes on the field are the ones I cherished. Beware of the locker room or domestic sequences.
No one has ever put such energy into football scenes in a film before. He definitely had some good consultants. There are some comical cameos - Johnny Unitas and Dick Butkus play opposing coaches. Lawrence Taylor can actually act a teeny bit and Jim Brown shares the film's best off the field scene with Pacino in a bar. Stone tries to show us how the game has changed. He resonates past glory with quotes from Lombardi, dissolves showing Red "the Galloping Ghost" Grange, and even Unitas handing off to Ameche. TV has changed everything, says the coach, and he is right. It seems to be all about the money nowadays.
That is the message, but you'll find yourself losing that idea in the lunacy of ANY GIVEN SUNDAY and the bone-crushing, ear-damaging football scenes. They are filmed and cut with such raw intensity, you feel like playing afterwards. This is definitely a film for football fans only unless you like big, sweaty men. Is there a big game at the end that needs to be won? Yes, and this surprised me considering how unconventional Stone usually is. Basically, surrender your senses and thought process to Stone's most entertaining film in quite some time.
Rating: 
Summary: This is a very enjoyable film!
Review: I am not a football fan. I am not an Oliver Stone fan. Cameron Diez was woefully miscast. And still...I really loved this film!Al Pacino was the original attraction in this film for me. Suffering through the down-side for the up-side of watching this great actor, who seems at home in any role, seemed do-able. Pacino didn't disappoint in this film. He was the personna of his character in all respects. Nary a mis-step in his performance. However, I was then pleasantly surprised to enjoy the entire film. I don't understand why this movie did not do better at the box office, particularly if it was viewed on the big screen, and considering how many football fans there are in the US and how many should have been drawn to this film. Even to a non-football fan, the game footage was awesome in it's visuals. The plot, panned apparently by most critics as tired and trite proved interesting. It presented all facets of the world of Professional Football, which really don't interest me in my real life, but which were fascinating within the story. The ideas of team-effort, loyalty, old versus new ideas, and reflections on life's choices in the retrospection of middle-age were thought-provoking, but not stodgy or over-dramatized. The acting of Jamie Foxx was a pleasant surprise, indeed all the actors kept the movie moving and interesting, or perhaps that was the direction of Oliver Stone. Perhaps in making not his BEST film, he finally made one that even his nonfans could enjoy. Enjoy it I did! It deserves a chance in your DVD player if you just want to view a good film with exciting music, great actors, and a complex message presented in a straightforward storyline.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Just Any Given Sports Film
Review: Any Given Sunday (DVD) is a "pro" football film experience that is hard to describe in typed words. I have watched it many times and affirm that it really gets one "ready for some football". The story is a collection of mini-stories, all woven into the tapestry of professional football. You will see the good and bad in people, and you will see a team forged from all levels of physical, psychological and emotional combat. Don't be "drawn offsides", either. This is not a predictible, sappy sports film - though it has seemingly all the formula for it. Oliver Stone orchestrates a music-video-like, surreal production in which the football action is explosive, crystal clear and totally believable. The "talking scenes" are not like the typical film, scenes that you casually wait through to get to the next action sequence. You are drawn into each of the evolving tales, seeing new things every time you watch this movie. Any Given Sunday gets my vote for just the DVD to watch - on any given evening! Please note: This is a grown-up's film, not for kids.
Rating:
Summary: Pure entertainment
Review: This movie deals about the affairs rounding football. The well-known director Oliver Stone analyses here the activities of Miami Sharks, a fictional American football team. For one reason or another, they are no lucky and get several losses in a row. The situation is so tense inside for everyone: the coach (Al Pacino) who often has to face the actual owner's team (Cameron Diaz). She is angry because of the crisis. There are also the leader of the team (Dennis Quaid) and another ambitious quarterback that tries to get his place (Jamie Foxx). He is Willie Beamen, the star who now appears in front page of all sport magazines.
I enjoyed it so much because of everything: the exceptional cast, the plot, the marvellous direction... and is really spectacular. Stone presents us an amazing work on the camera movements in order to make the games real, and you can see this in the many special features this DVD has. In addition, I liked so the performance by the actors. This goes beyond any movie about sport has ever made. It shows us the hardness and the inconveniences of football, but also how satisfying is to win.
Rating:
Summary: An awesome football movie but,...
Review: Before I watched this movie which was two years ago,I have never had the thought that a comedian such as Jamie Foxx or a singer,LL Cool J,could act football players so real.
I`m an Al Pacino fan and the first reason I wanted to see this movie was him.My second reason of watching this movie was my love to the sport movies.I`ve seen lots of football movies but I have never seen another movie that shows football and the football players` life conditions,the way they live,their fears and their wills so truely and pure.So that`s why I think this movie is awesome but still there are little short falls.For example when Jamie Foxx goes to Al Pacino`s house for lunch,they had an argument.While the argument was going on there comes lots of images from gladiator stuff and Al Pacino`s football memories.In a minute you see like hundreds of images that makes you sick.Oliver Stone tried to show the point sharp but while he was doing that he a little bit exaggreatted.
Still this is the best football movie ever made.
Rating:
Summary: the eye thing...
Review: completely unnecessary part of this "directors" cut nonsense where the dudes eye falls out in the endzone and is scooped up. Anyway, besides that, I think this is one of the best sports movies I've ever seen, and Lawrence Taylor is really the most exciting character to watch, knowing his story making the movie even more interesting. Some of the flashiness is a little cliche, but I guess that's sort of the point.
Rating: 
Summary: Not so entertaining for white men
Review: I was really curious to see this film because i saw some previous Stone's movies wich i liked and also because i like a lot sport movies, i'm thinking of Tin Cup and Bull Durham. But when i saw this film i was disapointed. Is this what really happens in the world of football white men being discriminated. What a great sport!! I don't know for u guys but is quite embarracing to take your girl to a film like that. And i'm not an anglo-saxon i'm portuguese so it's diferent to me.
That's what i think of this film anyway i'm curious for what u can say.
Rating:
Summary: Typical Oliver Stone
Review: i thought the movie was pretty well done and very well acted. but it seemed that Oliver Stone pushed too hard in this to convey an idea of some kind of conspiracy in football. at least i felt like i should be searching for a conspiracy. maybe it just comes from the fact that i'm used to Stone giving me conspiracy movies.
Rating:
Summary: FOOTBALL STONE STYLE
Review: Director Oliver Stone's take on the world of Pro football is another fine exercise in film making. Any Given Sunday tells the story of football coach Tuny D'amato (Al Pacino) and his battles on and off the field. His team, the Sharks, faces new ownership, an injured Quarterback, (Dennis Quaid) his bold and brashy replacement (Jamie Foxx), and that's just for starters. Stone once again relies on what has worked for him in the past to tell the story. There are multiple plots that are interconnected and put together like a big puzzle. In the wrong hands, this could be a disaster, fortune favors the foolish and Stone pulls it off. The use of quick edits and shaky camerawork only serve to further take us into this world that the director has set up for his viewers. The acting is first rate from Pacino, who is intense as Tony. Foxx is superb as Willie, there are also fine performances from LL Cool J, James Woods and Matthew Modine. I only had 2 minor problems with the flim: First, I had a hard time accepting Cameron Diaz as a tough as nails team owner. Second, its a shame that the NFL didn't endorse the film. Although, given the nature of the "take no prisioners" script, I can see why the NFL was a little hesitant to support the picture. As for Diaz, she is a fine actress, but seemed out of her element at times. The 2 disc DVD set is loaded with great bonus material. Stone's commentary track is filled with info about the film and lots of social commentary as well. Both topics are present in eaqual measure. The commentary by Foxx is as enjoyable as Stone's, even moreso. The set has the HBO First Look, a music only track, and rounding out the best of the extras is Jamie Foxx's audition tape that won him the role he has in the film. Stone has done it again. He has made a great film that gives the viewer a lot to think about. This is a great film and a fine 2 disc DVD
Rating:
Summary: SLICE OF AMERICANA COURTESY OF MISTER STONE
Review: OLIVER STONE by now has treated every theme possible about the AMERICAN institutions.He has sometimes succeeded in doing so(PLATOON,BORN IN THE FOURTH OF JULY,JFK);sometimes he failed miserably(HEAVEN AND EARTH,NIXON).ANY GIVEN SUNDAY is a fair movie about that marvelous AMERICAN institution called football.The usual four letter words are present;the overuse of montage is also on display;these are two items you can always find in any STONE movie.Characters often talk all in the same time.Yet ANY GIVEN SUNDAY has entertaining value,and tells a few truths well included in the script(Television killed that sport).CHARLTON HESTON a real AMERICAN legend has one scene;the use of clips of BEN-HUR is out of place.One of the pleasant surprize of this film is the performance of CAMERON DIAZ as the team's owner.As for AL PACINO,he gives his usual foul mouthed speeches,sometimes annoying,sometimes on target.If you don't think about it too much,you can actually swallow this piece of AMERICAN junk without trowing up.Good luck!
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